Brexit: Force new EU poll on next PM, says Mark Drakeford

Mark Drakeford says a no-deal Brexit would be "absolutely catastrophic" for Wales

Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford has urged MPs to act quickly to make sure the next prime minister holds another referendum on EU membership.

He has written to all Welsh MPs, asking them to force the government to publish legislation by the end of July that would pave the way to a public vote.

A former Brexit minister said he was being "contemptuous" of democracy.

The winner of the Tory leadership race between Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson will be announced on July 23.

Mr Drakeford's letter underlines growing differences between Welsh and UK Labour on Brexit.

• Tory leadership rivals split on Brexit plans

• Labour must move on Brexit, McDonnell warns

• Drakeford backs Remain in new referendum

After a poor showing for Labour at the European elections last month, Mr Drakeford said the time had come for a second referendum on whatever Brexit deal emerges between the UK and the EU.

In Westminster, however, Jeremy Corbyn's team is still hammering out the party's position.

On Wednesday, Labour MP Dame Margaret Becket told BBC Radio 4's Today that unnamed people around Mr Corbyn wanted Britain out of the EU and "don't give a toss" what party members think.

In his letter to MPs, Mr Drakeford said the Welsh Assembly had endorsed his position of wanting a second referendum and that the Welsh Government would campaign to remain in the EU.

He added it would be "outrageous" for the UK government to take the country out of the EU without a deal.

"I therefore urge you to continue to seek to legislate not just to prevent no deal, but also to force the government to bring forward a referendum bill by the 31st of July," he wrote.

"This must be done quickly - we cannot afford the economic damage being done every single day as a result of Brexit uncertainty."

Jeremy Hunt or Boris Johnson will take over from Theresa May on 24 July

Later, Mr Drakeford told BBC Wales: "There is a process in London, internal to the Labour Party, that will move where we are as a party, I'm sure.

"What we are doing here in Wales is part of that process.

"I'm happy to give the time to Mr Corbyn and other people who are part of that process to do what they are doing."

A Labour spokesman, asked about the difference in referendum policy with Welsh and Scottish Labour, said they have their own position and are autonomous.

The House of Commons' recess is due to start on July 25, but Mr Drakeford said "some things are more important" and it is not too late for Parliament to take control of the Brexit process.

He added: "We stand on the brink of a new Conservatives prime minister who appears, on both candidates' part, to be dedicated to the idea that you could leave the EU without a deal.

"That's absolutely catastrophic from the Welsh perspective."

Clwyd West MP David Jones, a former Brexit minister, said Mr Drakeford "appears unwilling to acknowledge Wales voted clearly to leave the EU in 2016".

"It is disturbing that the first minister should be so apparently contemptuous of the democratic process," he said.